Product Description

In this groundbreaking book, the bestselling author of No Logo exposes the gripping story of how America's `free market' policies have come to dominate the world - through the exploitation of disaster-shocked people and countries.
At the most chaotic juncture in Iraq's civil war, a new law is unveiled that would allow Shell and BP to claim the country's vast oil reserves. Immediately following September 11, the Bush Administration quietly out-sources the running of the `War on Terror' to Halliburton and Blackwater. After a powerful tsunami devastates the coasts of Southeast Asia, the pristine beaches are auctioned off to tourist resorts. New Orleans's residents, still scattered from Hurricane Katrina, discover that their public housing, hospitals and schools will never be reopened.
These events are examples of what Naomi Klein calls `the shock doctrine': the use of public disorientation following massive collective shocks - wars, terrorist attacks, natural disasters - to push through unpopular economic measures often called `shock therapy'. Sometimes, when the first two shocks don't succeed in wiping out all resistance, a third is employed: that of the electrode in the prison cell or of the Taser gun.
Based on breakthrough historical research and four years of on-the-ground reporting in disaster zones, The Shock Doctrine explodes the myth that the global free market triumphed democratically. Disaster capitalism - the rapid-fire corporate reengineering of societies that are reeling from shock - did not begin with September 11, 2001. Klein traces its intellectual origins back fifty years to the University of Chicago's economics department under Milton Friedman, whose influence is still felt around the world. She draws new and surprising connections between economic policy, `shock and awe' warfare and covert CIA-funded experiments in electroshock and sensory deprivation in the 1950s; research that helped write the torture manuals used today in Guantanamo Bay.
As Klein shows how the deliberate use of the shock doctrine produced world-changing events from Pinochet's coup in Chile in 1973 to the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, she tells a story radically different from the one usually heard. Once again Naomi Klein has written a book that will reframe the debate.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #53536 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-18
• Binding: Hardcover
• 576 pages

John le Carré
`Impassioned, hugely informative, wonderfully controversial, and scary as hell'

Arundhati Roy
`a brilliant, brave and terrifying book...nothing less than the secret history of the `Free Market'... compulsory reading'

John Berger
`Naomi Klein as a writer is an accusing angel...A book to be read everywhere.'

Customer Reviews

A chilling point of view on globalization that, if accurate, must make us angry and ashamed.
This is an important book which deserves to be read and considered carefully when forming our view on the issue of the practical and moral application of Corporate Globalization, which surely is one of the most significant changes to world order that has taken place in the last 25 years or less.

We have all learned over time that we must be careful in our quest for the truth; that we must weigh with a healthy amount of skepticism the facts as presented to us by various writers; that we must be cautious about unquestioningly accepting any particular interpretation of history, or more recent or current issues, as being fair, accurate or even honest. Naomi Klein is a radical lady. Anyone who has read her book "No Logo" will already know this. To me she comes across sometimes as an advocate of a deeply held personal point of view rather than as a fully dispassionate objective reporter. I have a sense at times that some of the facts on the other side of the debate are glossed over somewhat. I have some misgivings about the validity of a point of view that, as she presents it, seems to have only one side. All her bad guys are in one corner while the good guys are in the other. I really don't think the world is that black and white. Nevertheless......

Having stated those reservations I would say that Naomi Klein sets out for us a chilling account of the workings and influences of the laissez faire economics of the Chicago School, as expounded in the "sink-or-swim" theories of the Noble Prize winning economist Milton Friedman. Ms Klein relates how Friedmanite economics were initially tested in real life in Chile, with horrific results, subsequent to the overthrow of President Salvador Allende in 1973. In other accounts she details how the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund subsequently went on to undermine the economic sovereignty of many nations by imposing Friedmanite ideology on them as a condition of support - the IMF was created in the wing of the UN, after the 2nd World War, to provide support to threatened economies and thus to preserve world stability. It was not formed to promote any specific economic ideology. But that is what happened.

She outlines many other examples of what she describes as the devastating effects of corporate globalization in action - in Argentina; Brazil; Bolivia; Uruguay; Indonesia; Russia and Poland. She describes her interpretation of "disaster capitalism" as manifested in the aftermath of the massive tsunami of 2004, in the present day corporate management of "project Iraq" and "opportunity New Orleans". She claims that the current US administration (Bush/Cheney et al) have effectively privatized the US government - a staggering thought which she supports very well with her arguments. If her facts as related are accurate, if her account tells the tale of what really happened, and is happening today, then we must make ourselves fully aware of the lengths to which greed will drive the exponents of the "free marketplace" and of the suffering that they are prepared to cause in pursuit of their economic ideology and ultimately in the acquisition of incredible wealth. The world used to be hijacked by the one with the strongest arm, the biggest sword; now it is the turn of some politicians and the big corporate bosses. That's basically her story. It's fairly convincing and definitely worth reading.

A dangerous book appeal to the humanist and moralist
Having read No Logo and the reviews of the book I anticipated a leftist rant on capitalism, I am nevertheless shocked and disturbed by the detailed accounts of torture method and allegation of CIA-sponsored psychiatric research into electro-shock treatment. Naomi Klein has provided abundant evidence and accounts on the torture section and this left reader with a lasting impression throughout the book. However, her long account is necessarily disturbing and she relied too heavily on using electro-shock therapy to support her shock doctrine hypothesis. This as a popular writer may arouse our antipathy toward CIA, other power figures and corporations, affirming her moral grounds and socialist ideal, yet it is very unsatisfactory without providing any evidence in the contrary.

As a economics undergraduate, the allegation pointing to Milton Friedman is mildly interesting yet unjustified, indeed he was the prominent economist is the later half of 20th century, and true also is his belief of free market capitalism and non-interventionist stance. On the basis of his belief is his life-long research in economics theory and his advocacy of monetarism. While he may have made mistake of prescribing too dramatic economic reform policy on Chile, he might also have been flawed in his character, yet in light of all his achievement, it would be very unfair to attribute all the ill of capitalism to him. To an economist,while Chicago school have been very influential and as a consequence produce some very important figures, Chicago Boys as 'followers' of Friedman and his belief is amusing and misleading.

Economists use simplistic model to try model the behavior of economic system. In an ideal environment, we learn that competition and free market capitalism would led to the optimal social outcome. We understand that Neoclassical theory is based on a large set of unrealistic assumptions, with hindsight, many economists, including Friedman, might have underestimate the importance of those assumptions. Economist today benefited from a continuous development in game theory and other areas to relax the traditional restrictions, and more apt to solve economic problem and prescribe a right policy. With hindsight, Friedman in his time have made entirely reasonable decision based on his knowledge and prevalent belief then.

The central argument of shock doctrine, which in itself rather enlightening and thought-provoking, captivate us into an altogether different interpretation of contemporary political and economic history. She succeeded in providing a large quantity of evidence and stories which is her major achievement in this book. Yet without appealing to morality, as an economist there is no reason why should corporations and politicians not to take advantage of the situation, in an positive way not only benefit themselves but the entire community as a whole. Naomi Klein has relied mainly moral or ethical ground as to judge what is fair or not, what is right or wrong. While some of the facts and evidences could be disputed, it is impossible to entirely invalidate her argument or prove it, my view is that while many might have taken an 'unfair' share profit of crisis, it is far-fetched and unjust to allege some as to create a crisis to facilitate the shock treatment and make subsequent profit.
I have not learn sufficient history to judge other part of her book, however, i am very skeptical on the contents as a biased rant toward authority and establishment.

To reader with a critical eye Shock Doctrine would present an altogether different and intriguing picture of global current affairs. Yet receiving the book without discounting it, Naomi Klein would easily create a class of dissatisfied cynical youth. This is a dangerous book that could radically change one's belief.

An important text for understanding current world affairs
This is an excellent historical account of how the current global dominance of capitalism came to be. Disturbing accounts of complicity by US secret services in instigating military coup's in order to bring down the economies of sovereign nations that refused to play the 'capitalism game'.

It gives a refreshing perspective on the real reasons for America's Wars in Iraq and exposes the utter brutality and pointless execution of over a million Iraqi civilians for western profit.

It exposes the complicity between Governments, multinationals and the banking cartel through the IMF and world bank in ensuring 'democracy' is forced upon other nations.

The direct actions of torture and murder to bring citizens to their knees are well documented.

Anyone who isn't shocked and appalled at the negative social consequences of the shock doctrine should question whether they have a conscience at all. - for the rest of us it is a clear message that this system only favours the wealthy and a new economic system is needed.